The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, on Tuesday led prominent citizens of Benue, including the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, on a condolence visit to those affected by the brutal killings in Yelewata village, ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s trip to Makurdi, the state capital, scheduled for Wednesday.
Akume was accompanied on the visit to the Yelwata community in Guma Local Government by Senators Titus Zam and Emmanuel Udende, Jack Gyado, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Chief Michael Aondoakaa, as well as former Minister of Agriculture Chief Audu Ogbe, where they witnessed firsthand the extent of the destruction caused by the heinous attacks.
Akume and the team also visited victims who are currently receiving treatment at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi and several internally displaced being camped at the Makurdi International market.
Speaking, the SGF assured the mourning Benue people of more security presence in the state as the Federal Government takes suberate steps to end the incessant attacks on innocent communities by the suspected herdsmen.
SGF Akume said the President Bola Tinubu administration was concerned about the continued attacks on Benue communities and has given a directive to security agencies to end the carnage .
Akume who sympathized with the families of those who lost their loved ones appealed to them not to be weighed down noting that God who saved the people of Israel in the hands of Adolf Hitler was still alive and will not allow his children to perish .
Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Terhemen Oraduen in a post on his Facebook page said, Professor Utsev joined in condeming the continuous killing of unarmed civilians in the state by suspected herdsmen militia .
Professor Utsev who described the killings as barbaric and unwarranted, wondered why peaceful people will continue to suffer such heinous attacks especially now that the rainy season has set in and farmers were supposed to be carrying out farming activities to achieve food security in the country.
The Minister also assured Benue people of the unwavering commitment of President Bola Tinubu to make Nigeria safe and peaceful.
According to Oraduen, both Senator Titus Zam, Chief Audu Ogbe , Senator Jack Gyado and Dickson Tarkighir called for unity of purpose to defeat the common enemy and return permanent peace to the state.
The District Head of Nyiev Chief Bernard Dawa who spoke on behalf of the Yelewata community, appealed for the establishment of a Mobile Police Barack in the area and deployment of additional troops to confront the killers .
He also appealed to the Federal Government to support them with relief materials and funds to rebuild their homes that were burnt to ashes .
The SGF Senator Akume, Professor Utsev, Senator, Zam, Dickson Tarkighir, Architect Suny Echonu and Mathias Byuan made financial support to the internally displaced persons to alleviate their sufferings.
